Chapter 5: Volunteering for Duty

Although Xia Wuyou realized that the female ghost in the old house was not Granny returned, she chose not to tell Old Uncle the truth. It wasn't just to avoid disappointing him, but also to prevent unnecessary panic.

"Uncle, how did you find out that Granny had come back?" Xia Wuyou wanted to learn more about this female ghost.

"Ever since you left last time, maybe because I told you so many stories about your Granny, I started to dream about her almost every night," the old man said, his expression full of deep affection. Xia Wuyou could hardly bear to interrupt him.

"Perhaps I miss her too much, and she can't stand it, so she came back to see me," he continued, gently rubbing the damp corners of his eyes. "Sometimes, she closes the windows for me at night when I forget. Sometimes she puts the newspaper I can't find right on my desk. Xia, don't you think it's her? More amazingly, sometimes she plays with my old cat for a while—even though no one is there, the cat acts like it sees someone! It must be your Granny who came back..."

The old man talked on for a long while. Though it seemed he was asking Xia Wuyou for confirmation, he had already given himself the answer.

Xia Wuyou looked up, searching for the female ghost's presence, but found nothing. She then turned to Old Uncle and said, "Uncle, may I go upstairs to the second floor?"

"Of course, as long as you're not afraid," he replied.

Xia Wuyou stood up, carefully observing her surroundings as she slowly walked upstairs. The second floor had a large terrace. If not for today’s weather, it would have been the best place to enjoy the view.

"Are you here?" Xia Wuyou called softly as she approached the window, gently touching the snowy white curtains. Just as she was about to ask further, she suddenly felt a chill crawl down the back of her neck.

She knew—the ghost was standing right behind her.

She turned around. Despite being mentally prepared, the sight before her startled her so badly that she stepped back twice.

"Ah!" Xia Wuyou reacted like any normal person, letting out a startled cry.

"Xia, are you alright?" Old Uncle’s voice came from downstairs.

"I'm fine, Uncle!" Xia Wuyou replied, still shocked as she stared at the woman before her—no, the female ghost.

Perhaps downstairs, with Old Uncle present, the ghost had not revealed her full appearance. Though he couldn’t see her, it suggested the ghost meant no harm—she must have been a kind person in life.

Xia Wuyou calmed herself and examined the departed woman closely. The blood covering her body showed she had suffered inhuman treatment before death. Following the pattern of the bloodstains, it was easy to see that her limbs had been severed, and her face was slashed with numerous wounds. One calf and one arm were randomly attached to her body, their direction reversed. Though she could not speak, it was as if she desperately wanted to tell Xia Wuyou something, struggling to open her mouth.

But when she finally managed to do so, what came out was not a sound, but a spray of dark, clotted blood.

Though Xia Wuyou had witnessed scenes like this before, she still couldn’t help but feel a wave of nausea rising from her stomach.

"I'm sorry!" She apologized for her reaction, forcing herself not to retch. "I know you must have suffered a great injustice. Don't worry, if I can help you, I will do my utmost."

Hearing Xia Wuyou’s words, the female ghost’s emotions eased somewhat. Still, with no way to communicate, Xia Wuyou couldn’t gain more information.

The summer rain came and went quickly. When Xia Wuyou returned downstairs, the rain outside had already stopped. The cicadas, briefly silenced, began their chorus anew.

After comforting Old Uncle, Xia Wuyou left the old house.

Though the rain had stopped, the temperature had not yet begun to rise. She scanned a shared bicycle and rode home, her mind weighed down with thoughts.

How could she help the ghost? Who was she, and what had she experienced in life?

Xia Wuyou pondered these questions absentmindedly as she pedaled.

A piercing car horn jolted her from her reverie.

"Do you have a death wish? Didn’t you see the red light?" The driver shouted.

She realized she’d ridden nearly to the middle of the intersection without stopping for the red light.

"I’m sorry! I’m sorry!" Xia Wuyou quickly nodded and apologized.

"Be careful next time! That’s dangerous!" The car sped off.

Still shaken, Xia Wuyou looked up at the street sign—Fule Street.

"Fule Street?"

Why did that name feel so familiar? She seemed to recall it flashing through her mind in recent days.

That’s right—the dismemberment case!

Suddenly she remembered: the day she went past the old house, she’d passed this street, found body parts in a restroom, and encountered Su Tianmu.

Now it made sense—the female ghost in the old house was the victim from the restroom, and because she was different from others, she had brought the wronged soul to the old house herself!

No wonder there had been a lingering chill following her when she left that sweltering day.

Xia Wuyou finally saw how it all fit together. With this major breakthrough, she sped up, excitement surging within her.

But when she got home, another dilemma awaited.

Yes—Su Tianmu, the person she disliked most.

To uncover the truth, she would have to contact him. She recalled how she’d flatly rejected him last time, and now, needing his help, she could only imagine the expression he’d wear.

Never mind! For the sake of restoring peace to the old house, helping Old Uncle sell it, and letting the wronged soul find justice, she’d set aside her pride.

With her resolve firmed, everything she did now felt perfectly natural.

Xia Wuyou added water to Tang Dou’s bowl, took a chilled drink from the fridge, and sat down on the sofa for a sip.

"Beep... beep..."

She dialed Su Tianmu’s number, but the ringtone went on and on—no answer.

Was he really so petty? Was he seeking revenge for last time?

She muttered to herself.

Just as the last ring sounded, and she thought the call would disconnect, Su Tianmu’s cold voice came through.

"What do you want?"

Xia Wuyou touched the chilled bottle in her hand, comparing its temperature to the voice on the line.

Heh! It really was cold.

"I’ve decided. I want to help you solve the case."